Method for casting jewelry by the lost wax process



Feb 10, 1970 M. 5. mm Re. 26,785

IETHOD-FOR CASTING JmY BY TH; 1,051 I rnoc ori ami Filed Aunt; 4. 1964 Ht J INVENTOR.

BYMORTON 8. KAPLAN ATTORNEYS Feb. 10, 1970 5, KAPLAN Rt. 26,785

METHOD FOR CASTING JEWELRY BY THE LOST WAX PROCESS Original Filed Aug.4, 1964 2 sheets-Sheet 2 i Fig,

INVENTOR- MORTON S. KAPLAN h iuwwdw ATTORNEYS United States Patent26,785 METHOD FOR CASTING JEWELRY BY THE LOST WAX PROCESS Morton S.Kaplan, Miami, Fla., assignor to Micro- Thermal Applications, Inc.,Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware Original No. 3,302,257, datedFeb. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 387,403, Aug. 4, 1964. Application for reissueDec. 6, 1968, Ser. No. 786,786

Int. Cl. B22c 9/02 US. Cl. 164-34 6 Claims Matter enclosed in heavybrackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of thisreissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additionsmade by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to method andapparatus of molding rings, pendants and similar items of jewelry andparticularly school or organization rings wherein the body of the ringgenerally contains decorative matter and year numerals and the top orcap mounts a stone or gem and includes an annular bezel containing thename of the school or organization.

Heretofore such school rings were made by several methods. In one, themetal was struck fiat, then rounded about a mandrel and the seam buttwelded to form the body. Then the bezel containing the school letterswas made as a separate unit using a steel hub or die and striking metalagainst it, after which the excess metal was trimmed away to produce thebezel. The bezel was then soldered to the top of the body of the ring.Thereafter, a stone setter cut out a bearing or seat on the innerperiphery of the bezel and a stone was set therein to complete the ring.In another method, the same procedure was used except that the body ofthe ring was made by casting instead of striking. In yet another method,the body is cast in wax, the bezel is struck from a steel die and a waxmodel is made therefrom. The wax bezel is then glued to the wax body andboth are then cast in metal.

The aforementioned methods are uneconomical because, for every school,an individual steel hub or die must be used to strike the bezel. Then astone bearing must be cut into the bezel in a separate step as suchcannot be provided by striking metal against the steel hub or die. Thisprocedure must be repeated for each order of rings of a particularschool and where an order for rings of a new school is received, a steelhub or die must be made up, which is relatively expensive. Moreover,should the manufacturer receive an order for one or only a few of suchrings, the cost of making up a special steel hub or die would make thecost of the ring prohibitive.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide apparatus and amethod of molding rings of the character above described which overcomethe aforementioned disadvantages residing in the conventional methods sothat rings, pendants and similar articles can be made cconomically, bothindividually and in large quantities, thereby making it possible tosupply such articles on a mail order basis.

An important object of the invention is to provide apparatus and amethod of molding rings, pendants and similar [article sof] articles ofjewelry having a body portion and a decorated annular bezel which doesnot require the use of a separate steel hub or die with decorativematter therein from which the bezel is struck and by which a wax modelof the entire ring including the body portion and the bezel or theentire ring in white or soft metal is molded in a single step oroperation.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus and method ofmolding a wax model of rings, pendants and similar articles of jewelryhaving a body portion and an annular decorative bezel in a single stepusing split white metal molds for the body portion and a mold unit forthe bezel, the latter including a white metal blank into which thedesired decorations, such as the name of the school or organization, hasbeen cut or routed out as by a pantograph. Thus, the method is renderedmost economical and versatile since rings can be readily made in anyquantity and to order by using one of several molds corresponding tostandard ring body designs, taking a white metal bezel blank from stockand routing the desired letters therein at that time, and inserting thesame into the mold.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus and method ofmolding rings, pendants and similar articles of jewelry having a bodyportion and an annular decorative bezel of White or soft metal wherein awhite metal bezel, made without striking it from a steel die or hub, issecured to the body portion and the entire jewelry article is used tomake a plurality of mold cavities in cooperative rubber mold plates andthen white metal is cast centrifugally in the cavities.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent asthe following description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the first step in one form of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blank bezel piece made in the stepof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, illustrating the stepof punching out the blank;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the step of trimming theblank;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bezel blank with letters appliedthereto ready for insertion in the molding apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a group perspective view of the wax molding apparatusemploying the blank of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a machine brass hub employed in a secondform of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a white metal bezel blank made from thehub of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a group perspective view of a ring body and trimmed bezelblank in. position to be secured on the face of the ring;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary group perspective view of rubber plates withring mold cavities formed therein;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the centrifugalcasting of metal in the mold cavities of the rubber plates of FIG. 10.

Specific reference is now make to the drawings in which similarreference characters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-6, a die or hub 10, preferably of steel, isprovided having an annular groove 12 therein corresponding to thedesired bezel of a ring, pendant or similar article. A bar of white orsoft metal 14 is placed over the hub and by means of a conventionalpress 16 an unfinished blank member 18 is formed having embossed thereinan annular raised portion 20 with an inclined face 22 therein,diametrically opposed tongue members 24 for a purpose later to appearand, of course, excess material including a button 26 carried by metal28 on the inside of the raised portion 20, and metal or flashing 30 onthe outside thereof.

The member 18 is then placed on the lower shoe 32 of a punch press 34having a punch 36 with a relief 38 therein corresponding to the button26, the outer diameter of the punch being equivalent to the innerdiameter of the annular raised portion 20, The punch operation removesthe inner metal 28 and button 26. By replacing the punch 36 with anotherdie 40 in the press, see FIG. 4, the flashing 30 is trimmed off.

The cored and deflashed member is then placed in a pantograph and theinner inclined face 22 is routed to produce the desired letters 42therein, such as the name of a particular school or organization. Thus,a bezel blank 44 is produced with a central opening 46, a decoratedinner annular inclined face 22 therearound and diametrically opposedtongues 24.

A mold made of white or soft metal is provided, as shown in FIG. 6, thesame including, among other things, upper and lower complementarycylindrical members 48 and 50. Each member includes a semi-cylindricalmajor cavity 52, a diametrically extending minor cavity 54 definingone-half of the contour of the body of the ring, including decorationsif desired, a wax inlet passageway 56 in diametrical alignment with thecavity 54 and a further cavity 58 at an angle to the axis of the majorcavity. A further semi-cylindrical cavity 60 is provided whose axis isin alignment with that of the body contour cavity 54 and perpendicularto that of the major cavity 52. The cavity 60 includes a slot 62 adaptedto receive one of the tongues 24 of the bezel blank 44 and indentations64 spaced therefrom.

A ring-like back up member 66 is provided having protuberances 68extending from its peripheral surface adapted to enter the indentations64. The flat face 67 of the bezel blank 44, Le. the face opposite thedecorated inclined face 22, is placed against the inner face 69 of theback up member 66 and a plug 70 is employed which is a tapered unithaving axial slits 72, the plug fitting through the holes 46 and 74 ofthe bezel blank 44 and back up member 66 and including a head 76 havingan annular shoulder 78. A mandrel to fill the cavities 52 is providedcomprising a brass substantially cylindrical member 80 having a chordalcut-out 82 which is filled in by a white metal member 84 having an axialextension 86 adapted to enter the cavity 58 and a radial head 88 tooppose the head 76 of the plug 70.

When the units making up the mold are assembled, the mandrel members 80,84 fit into the cooperating cavities 52 with the extension 86 extendinginto the cooperating cavities 58, the tongues 24 fit into slots 62 andthe protuberances 68 fit into the indentations 64 with the result thatthere will be a continuous cavity 54 in a particular plane representingthe body of the ring, a cavity equivalent to the bezel inner face 22 ina plane substantially perpendicular to that of the body portion and atits end to represent the top of the ring, and a cavity equivalent to theshoulder 78 immediately to the rear of the bezel face 22 representingthe stone bearing. As is conventional, the two halves 48 and 50 of themold are properly located by interengagement of protuberances on onehalf fitting into indentations in the other.

\Vax is then forced under pressure into the mold via the cooperatingcavities 56, the slits 72 in the plug 70 and the notches 90 in themandrel acting as vents for the displaced air, Upon cooling in a veryshort time, the mold halves are separated, the plug 70, bezel blank 44and back up member 66 removed as a unit, and the two portions 80 and 84of the mandrel separated to provide a wax model of the desired ring. Ifdifferent decorations on the till body portion of the ring are desired,the mold cavities 54 can be made smooth and with indentations to receivedesired decorated inserts.

The wax model is then used to make a plaster model and then the ring iscast into the desired metal, such as gold, silver, etc., all by theconventional lost wax or investment process.

Thus, by employing molds for a number of standardized body designs andproviding unadorned bezel blanks for the different designs, all that isrequired for making one or a plurality of school or organization ringsis to take the blank and rout the name therein by a pantograph, theninsert the decorated bezel blank into the mold, make a wax model andfinally cast the ring of the desired metal through the lost wax process.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-11, the method and apparatus shown therein aredesigned to provide a means to make school and organizational rings ofthe type described hereinbefore in large quantities and relativelyinexpensively out of white metal. A die or hub 92 of machine brass ismade in which the bezel surface 94 and letters 96 are routed out by apantograph as is a further inclined surface 98 therebeneath for a stonebearing. A white metal bar is struck on the hub to produce a crude blankhaving flashing 100, a raised decorated bezel 102, a stone bearing 104and a central fiat potion 106. The flashing is removed to provided thedecorated bezel unit 108, see FIG. 9. This unit is secured by adhesionor other means to the flat top face of a ring 112 of desired size, shapeand decoration.

Into a lower circular slab of rubber 114 a plurality of circular cuts116 are made to conform to the inner contour of the ring 112 and thering is pushed thereinto with the bezel unit or top facing away from thecenter of the slab which is formed with a dished in portion 1l8. Rubberis pushed around the ring to form a mound 120 which covers or buries thering up to its upper edge 122. A complementary upper circular rubberslab 124 is [rovided] provided having a central hole 126 in verticalalignment with the indentation 118 of the lower slab. At positionscorresponding to the cuts 116, the upper slab includes depending pintles128 and indentations 130 thereabout, so that when the upper slab isclosed upon the lower one, the pintles 128 enter the buried rings toserve as mandrels and the indentations 130 receive the mounds 120, therebeing upstanding pins 132 in the lower slab and indentations 134 in theupper slab to serve as a locating and orienting means.

Before closure, the meeting faces of the slab are coated with powder andafter closure the slabs are subjected to vulcanizing pressures andtemperatures. After vulcanization, the slabs are separated, the ringsremoved and radial slits 1.36 are cut into the lower slab 114 from thecentral indentation 118 to each mold cavity 138 formed in the slab.

The slabs are again closed and placed upon the support of a centrifugeand molten white metal is poured through the hole 126 of the upper slabas the slabs are rotated, the metal striking the indentation 118 in thelower slab and passing via the radial slits 136 into the mold cavities138 where the metal is centrifugally cast in the desired ring form. Astone is then set into the bezel unit against the bearing 104 and thecentral portion 106. If desired, the central portion 106 can be punchedout. Thus, by stocking a plurality of rubber molds of predetermined ringdesigns, including the decorated bezels, an order, consisting of one ora plurality of rings of a particular school or organization can bereadily filled and rather inexpensively.

If one desires to cast the ring in metal, such as silver or gold, onecan pour molten wax through the hole 126 of the upper slab and cast thesame centrifugally in the mold cavities 138. Thereafter, casting in themetal from the wax model can be effected by the lost wax process asdescribed in connection with process of P108. 1-6.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have here been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that skilled artisans may make minorvariations without departing from the spirit of the invention and thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of makng a ring having a body portion and decorated annularbezel at one end thereof in a plane substantially perpendicular to thatof said body portion comprising the steps of forming a blank of softmetal having a bezel surface, routing a legend in sai surface, providinga mold cavity corresponding to the size and contour of said bodyportion, holding said blank adjacent said mold cavity so that said bezelsurface extends substantially at right angles to the plane of said moldcavity to form an additional mold cavity corresponding to said bezel,molding the entire ring in said cavities in wax and casting said ring inmetal via the lost wax process.

2. A method of making a ring having a body portion and a decoratedannular bezel at one end thereof in a plane substantially perpendicularto that of said body portion comprising the steps of forming a blank ofsoft metal having a bezel surface, routing a legend in said surface,routing a shoulder in said blank adjacent and around said bezel surfacefor a stone bearing, said shoulder forming a stone bearing, providing amold cavity corresponding to the size and contour of said body portion,holding said blank adjacent said mold cavity so that said bezel surfaceextends substantially at right angles to the plane of said mold cavityto form an additional mold cavity corresponding to said bezel and saidshoulder, molding the entire ring in said cavities in wax, casting saidring in metal via the lost wax process, and setting a stone against saidstone bearing.

3. A method of making a ring having a body portion and a decoratedannular bezel at one end thereof in a plane substantially perpendicularto that of said body portion comprising the steps of forming a blank ofsoft metal having a bezel surface, routing a legend in said surface bypantograph, providing a mold cavity corresponding to the size andcontour of said body portion, holding said blank adjacent said moldcavity so that said bezel surface extends substantially at right anglesto the plane of said mold cavity to form an additional mold cavitycorresponding to said bezel, molding the entire ring in said cavities inwax and casting said ring in metal via the st wax process.

4. A method of making a ring having a body portion and a decoratedannular bezel at one end thereof in a plane substantially perpendicularto that of said body portion comprising the steps of forming a blank ofsoft metal having a bezel surface, routing a legend by pantograph insaid surface, routing a shoulder by pantograph in said blank adjacentand around said bezel surface for a stone bearing, providing a moldcavity corresponding to the size and contour of said body portion,holding said blank adjacent said mold cavity so that said bezel surfaceextends substantially at right angles to the plane of said mold cavityto form an additional mold cavity corresponding to said bezel and saidshoulder, molding the entire ring in said cavities in wax, casting saidring in metal via the lost wax process, and setting a stone against saidstone bearing.

5. A method of making an article of jewelry having a body portion anddecorated annular bezel at one end thereof comprising the steps offorming a blank of soft metal having a bezel surface, routing a legendin said surface, providing a mold cavity corresponding to the size andcontour of said body portion, holding said blank adjacent said moldcavity to form an additional mold cavity corresponding to said bezel,molding the entire article 0 jewelry in said cavities in wax and castingsaid article of jewelry in metal via the lost wax process.

6. A method of making an article of jewelry having a body portion anddecorated annular bezel at one end thereof in a plane substantiallyparallel to that of an adjacent surface of said body portion comprisingthe steps of forming a blank of soft metal having a bagel surface,routing a legend in said surface, providing a mold cavity correspondingto the size and contour of said body portion, holding said blankadjacent said mold cavity so that said bezel surface extendssubstantially parallel to the plane of said mold cavity as dcfincd bysaid adjacent surface of said body portion to form an additional moldcavity corresponding to said bezel, molding the entire article 0 jewelryin said cavities in wax and casting said article of jewelry in metal viathe lost wax process.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 695,507 3/1902 Strang 249-57 1,567,402 12/1925Venn 18-44 1,899,258 2/1933 Bush 1844 2,354,026 7/1944 Jungerson 164352,362,136 11/1944 Jungerson 24957 X J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, PrimaryExaminer R. S. ANNEAR, Assistant Examiner US. or. X.R.

